MONEY SAVING TIP :: PLANTER SAUCER

Don't you hate it when you're watering your plants, forget that there are holes on the bottom of the pot, and realize there's now a giant pool of water trickling from underneath?  This not only dirties up the bottom of the planter, or chance ruining your hardwood floors with a pool of water, but it's also bad for the plant.  Having a plant sit in water will cause the roots to rot (aka your plants will die).

While replanting this snake plant, I had a small genius moment.

Instead of buying a new saucer, why not put to good use an existing household item that would've otherwise been collecting dust in your cabinets (i.e. a chipped plate, wide bowl or a large pie tin)?

I placed the snake plant in a plastic pot that came with holes on the bottom.  I added a plate to the bottom of the white planter.  Then, add the plant on top.  To finish off the look, I added some moss filler on top to cover the dirt.  This also helps hide the pot from peaking out of the planter.

This tip is especially helpful when your potted plants are nested in woven baskets where water will leak out of the bottom of the basket.

BOHO PILLOWS UNDER $50

Throw pillows have always been a sore subject between my husband and me.  Anyone else out there have the same problem?  If I could have it my way, I'd load up on pillows everywhere.  With the switch of a different colors, sizes and texture, they complete the look of the sofa or bed.

87 UNIQUE STORAGE SOLUTIONS

January is all about freshening up the home and getting organized.  It's a good time to store away the holiday decorations, do a thorough wipe-down (using zero waste cleaning products), and purge any non-essentials.

I always found that the fun begins soon-after by organizing with beautiful yet functional displays.  With everything looking pretty, it's easy to keep up things orderly the rest of the year.

Here are 87 unique storage solutions to help you keep organized, room by room.

PLANT LOVE

Plants make me happy.  I have plants in almost every room in the house.  A little excessive?  Probably, but there's a good reason for that.

JANUARY DETOX

Happy 2018!  There's nothing like starting off the new year with a new perspective.  That means creating a cleaner, more organized and peaceful home.

Speaking of new perspectives,

DIY INSPIRATION :: BRANCH ON CANVAS

I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend after the holiday craze.  I wanted to quickly share a DIY inspiration that I spotted at my new hair salon.  I enjoy mixing clean, modern furniture with rustic accessories that have a natural element to them.  Beachy resort vibes?  Yes please.

Always looking for a new DIY project, this floral art piece stopped me at my tracks. 

STORING HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

via

Holiday decorating can be fun but putting them away can become stressful.  To help you get it done faster so you can enjoy more time sipping hot cocoa next to the fireplace, here are a few organizational tips.

CALLING ALL MINIMALISTS :: WHICH TYPE ARE YOU?

The minimalism movement has grown in the last few years, as Marie Kondo and the likes have sparked an international trend to only keep what you really love.  I'm a firm believer of decluttering and being mindful of the things we bring into the house. 

OUR ENTRYWAY

First impressions are so important.  And that's why I decided to finally put some attention on building a welcoming transition from the outside in.

BIG NEWS

First, I’d like to say thanks to all of you who have been following my blog since I started last year.  It’s been a humbling experience being able to share my thoughts on how to implement a minimalistic lifestyle through fashion, beauty, and home.  I wasn’t expecting much when I started this blog.  

HOW TO HOST A STRESS-FREE THANKSGIVING

Every year, I look forward to hosting the biggest event of year at our home -- Thanksgiving.  Growing up, my parents would host about 40-60 of our closest local relatives, newly immigrated family members, new additions to the family, and friends of family.  Nowadays, my parents are usually travelling during this time of year.  While some family members who choose to spend their Thanksgivings at other homes, we have new guests that join our festivities each year.

It's an honor to continue this longstanding tradition and I have a few tips to share on how to keep a large (or small) gathering simple & stress-free.

DIY AFFORDABLE ART :: HOW TO MAKE AN ENGINEER PRINT

Like many young families, we are on a tight budget.

DOUBLE DUTY FURNITURE

Double duty furniture is like a superhero.  They have maximum versatility and can be used for multiple functions.  By day, it could be a sofa; by night, a bed.

Whether you have a small studio and don't have the space, or want to live more simply, there are a number of advantages to double duty furniture.

• Less clutter
• No need to spend money on additional pieces of furniture
• Easier to rearrange if you move it to a different location.  Clunky furniture is harder to style and can be limiting due to its size restrictions.

Here are a few ideas on how to implement this in your home.

The next time you decide to buy a new piece of furniture, I encourage you to try shopping in your own home for an existing piece and see if you can use it for a different purpose.  I'd love to hear what great ideas you have!

SOFA  +  BED

Our Current Family Room - West Elm Tillary Sofa/ Bed :: Coffee Table/ Bench Seating/ Hidden Storage (similar)

Back when we lived in a one-bedroom condo, we had friends that would occasionally stay the night.  We remove the back pillows of the sofa and put the sofa bases together lengthwise.  It instantly became a queen sized bed.

25 THINGS TO GET RID OF RIGHT NOW :: A NO-BRAINER SPRING CLEANING GUIDE

Getting ready to spring clean, but don't know where to start?  Here are 25 things you can get rid of today without giving it a second thought.  I hope this list will make spring cleaning a little easier for you.  Happy cleansing!

MONEY SAVING TIP :: HOW TO EARN CASH BACK WHILE SHOPPING WITH EBATES

Who doesn't like shopping for a good deal?

If there's a way that I can save money by stacking coupons with sales promotions, AND get cash back, it's a successful shopping trip.  Ebates is my go-to website that helps me do just that.  Since 2014, I've saved hundreds of dollars in cash back rewards.

RECIPE :: HOW TO NATURALLY DYE EASTER EGGS BLUE

Natural dyes can create some of the most beautiful colors.  Plants, spices, animals & fungi have been used historically all over the world to dye clothing, textiles, artifacts and act as a color additive for beauty products.  You can easily create a rainbow of colors using everyday ingredients found in the kitchen.  Mix & match different dyes, or dye the eggs at various lengths of time and your results will multiply.

AN ECO-FRIENDLY EASTER BASKET

Can you believe Easter is right around the corner?  Where did the time go?  Not sure if it's just me but I feel like this year is going by faster than normal.  Last Easter, Jace was barely a month old and I was completely sleep-deprived so it was tough getting into the holiday spirit.  I didn't get him an Easter basket, but I did manage to snap a quick photo of him in a beanie with bunny ears though.

As I put together Jace's Easter basket this year, I decided to forego all of the plastic and disposable options in favor of a more eco-conscious basket that the little guy would love.

DIY SOLAR LED LIGHTS

Happy Spring!  It's been a record year for California with the rain and we're finally seeing a break from it.  This means it's time to get back out there to spruce up the garden.

One project that I tackled soon after we moved into our home last year was replacing our grassy yard with a drought tolerant plantscape.

VERSATILE GIFT WRAP

DIY Paper Flowers

If there's one wrapping paper I could recommend, it would be

SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS TREES: LIVE VS. ARTIFICIAL

Image Credit: Pottery Barn

The Christmas tree is largely a Germanic tradition, dating back to the 1500s.  In the 1700s, German immigrants brought over the tradition to the U.S.  However, the Christmas tree didn't gain notoriety outside of the German households until the 1830s, when Queen Victoria & Prince Albert (both of German descent) brought the tradition to Windsor Castle in the U.K.  This caught the attention of the public and soon, the Christmas tree tradition widely spread.  In the1930s, the idea of an artificial tree was invented by U.S.-based toilet brush manufacturer Addis Brush.  The first artificial trees are merely a giant, green toilet bowl scrubber.  History shows that the Christmas tree is a deeply rooted tradition on an international level.

Before splurging on a tree this season, there are advantages and disadvantages to a live vs. artificial tree to consider.